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Game Development · head to head

Construct 3 vs Stencyl

Construct 3 logo

Construct 3

Game Development

Create games without coding. Powered by the Scirra engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stencyl logo

Stencyl

Game Development

Create games with visual programming

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Construct 3 the free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account; Stencyl the free Starter tier can publish to the web only
  • They diverge on capability: Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Stencyl covers Visual block programming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Construct 3 and Stencyl actually diverge.

Attributes where Construct 3 and Stencyl differ
AttributeConstruct 3Stencyl
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash
Founded20072011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Game Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Construct 3

  • Visual event system
  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Sprite editor
  • Particle effects
  • Sound effects
  • Web-based
  • HTML5 support
  • Google Play

Only in Stencyl

  • Visual block programming
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Sprite animation
  • Sound and music
  • Tilemap editor
  • Actor system
  • Haxe support
  • Visual Studio Code

Both cover

  • Physics engine
  • GitHub
  • Dropbox
  • Local deployment
  • Web deployment
  • Mobile deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Construct 3

  • Building 2D browser games without writing codenot Stencyl
  • Publishing HTML5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one projectnot Stencyl

Stencyl

  • Game development for independent creatorsnot Construct 3
  • Cross-platform game publishing (iOS, Android, Web, Desktop)not Construct 3
  • Indie game studio platformnot Construct 3

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Construct 3

  • The free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
  • Free projects are limited to 2 layers, 2 special effects, 1 timeline animation of up to 5 seconds and 1 web font
  • The free version can only publish to HTML5 and the Construct Arcade, so desktop, Android, iOS and Facebook Instant Games all need a paid plan
  • Licences are per seat and annual, at $129.99 for Personal, $168.99 for Startup Business and $468.99 for Business

Stencyl

  • The free Starter tier can publish to the web only
  • Desktop publishing requires the Indie plan at $99 a year
  • iOS and Android publishing require the Studio plan at $199 a year
  • Licences are annual, so continuing to publish means continuing to pay

Pricing, plan by plan

Construct 3

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Web-based editor
    • HTML5 export
    • Asset library
  • Personal$99/year
    • All Free features
    • Offline editor
    • Advanced export

Stencyl

Free
  • Starter (Free)Free
    • Publish to Web only
    • Includes Stencyl branding splash screen
  • Indie$99/year
    • Publish to Web and Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)
    • Early access to latest releases
    • No watermarks or forced Stencyl branding
  • Studio (Most Popular)$199/year
    • Publish to iOS, Android, Web and Desktop
    • Early access to latest releases
    • No watermarks or forced Stencyl branding

Which should you pick?

Choose Construct 3 if

  • You need visual event system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want drag-and-drop editor.
Construct 3 review

Choose Stencyl if

  • You need visual block programming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash.
  • You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Stencyl review

Questions people ask

Is Construct 3 or Stencyl better?
Neither clearly leads. Construct 3 starts at Free and Stencyl at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Construct 3 or Stencyl?
Construct 3 starts at Free and Stencyl at Free.
Does Construct 3 or Stencyl run on more platforms?
Construct 3 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Stencyl runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash.
Can I use Construct 3 for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Construct 3 best used for?
Construct 3 is most often used for building 2d browser games without writing code, publishing html5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one project. Of those, building 2d browser games without writing code and publishing html5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one project are not what Stencyl is typically brought in for.
What can Construct 3 do that Stencyl cannot?
Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop editor, Sprite editor, Particle effects. Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Drag-and-drop interface, Sprite animation, Sound and music. Both handle Physics engine, GitHub, Dropbox, Local deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stencyl: How much does Stencyl cost?

Stencyl offers a free Starter plan, Indie at $99/year, and Studio at $199/year. All platforms include annual subscriptions with no royalties or per-game fees.

Source
Stencyl: What platforms can I publish to with each Stencyl plan?

Starter publishes to Web only. Indie adds Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux). Studio includes all Indie platforms plus iOS and Android mobile.

Source
Stencyl: Does Stencyl offer a money-back guarantee?

Yes, both Indie and Studio plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee from the date of purchase, provided you have not published any games.

Source
Stencyl: Can I use Stencyl after my subscription expires?

Yes, your games will continue to work after your subscription expires. However, you cannot publish new games or updates without an active subscription.

Source
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